News & analysis

Regional overview

Regional overview

Updated to Q2 2017

The European acetone market entered the first quarter with a continued lack of available material in the spot market and rising spot prices dominating market discussions. May became the first month in 2017 to show any signs of spot prices softening in Europe and as the market moved into June the increased presence of imported material undermined the tight supply and demand dynamics that had generated the sustained uptick in acetone spot prices. Nevertheless, some in the market continue to see limited availability in the spot market. Acetone methyl methacrylate (MMA) contract prices have continued to see greater stability that spot prices, despite the contract price rising by 100% of the increase in key feedstock propylene in April. May saw a rollover, while June saw a drop that reflected 80% of the movement in propylene. This latter percentage is more in line with the usual pass through of feedstock movements. Demand for acetone has been healthy, but the driver for higher spot prices has been limited availability, rather than extraordinary demand.

Editor

Price history

Price history

ICIS collects pricing data on a wide range of chemical, energy and fertilizer products, including Acetone. Our extensive experience in price reporting means we can offer you access to historical data dating back more than 20 years for certain commodities.

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Methodology

ICIS price assessments are based on information gathered from a wide cross-section of the market, comprising consumers, producers, traders and distributors from more than 250 reporters world-wide. Confirmed deals, verified by both buyer and seller, provide the foundation of our price assessments.

Our in-depth market knowledge drives our specialist focus, as we recognise the importance of individual market dynamics and not a one-size-fits-all approach.

Over 25 years of reporting on key chemicals markets, including Acetone, has brought global recognition of our methodology as being unbiased, authoritative and rigorous in preserving our editorial integrity. Our global network of reporters in Houston, London, Singapore, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Mumbai, Perth and Moscow ensures unrivalled coverage of established and emerging markets.

Acetone Methodology

The main use of acetone, accounting for over a quarter of total consumption, is in the manufacture of acetone cyanohydrin, a feedstock for methyl methacrylate (MMA). The other major and fast growing derivative is bisphenol-A (BPA).

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